Veteran Smoak a positive influence as young Blue Jays hitters manage another win

MINNEAPOLIS — If there was a voice of reason in the Blue Jays clubhouse when the bats were collectively as ice cold as the plentiful frozen lakes in these parts, his name is Justin Smoak.

Gander at the lineup manager Charlie Montoyo trotted out for Tuesday’s 6-5 win over the Twins and it’s clear that the big first baseman is a rarity on this rebuilding team in that he’s a bonafide veteran hitter.

As such, Smoak has provided a sympathetic ear to some of his struggling young teammates while showing leadership both through his wry wisdom and consistency at the plate.

It was a typical Smoak outing in the latest Jays win — a pair of walks and a two-out RBI single — as the 2017 all-star kept innings alive and provided continued examples of the value of patience while helping the Jays grind out another win.

“I see guys fighting themselves and for me, I was that guy when it wasn’t going right,” Smoak said. “I’d hit the gas harder instead of pump the breaks. I’ve talked to a few guys about that.

“The game is as fast as it’s ever been. When you’re trying to hit the gas, all your doing is speeding it up even more and that’s not where you want to be.”

That had been a tough lesson for some Jays hitters to grasp earlier in the season as they fell into the natural trap of pressing.

But with Tuesday night’s nine-hit effort on top of 11 the previous night, there is evidence of an upturn. Jays batters now have 59 hits over their past seven games after managing just 64 in their first 11.

Smoak knows of what he speaks when providing counsel. Earlier in his career, he was that guy — a swing-for-the-fences, all-for-nothing hitter who took it hard when he failed.

Over his previous six contests Smoak has been the model of consistency, reaching base in 17 of 27 plate appearances with a breakdown that screams professional hitter. Besides 10 walks there have been four singles, a double, a home run and a hit by pitch.

“I think I’m just more comfortable with where I’m at,” said Smoak, who has reached safely in 13 of the 14 games in which he has played. “Maybe my swing. Maybe my timing. Maybe my approach, a little bit of all of that. I’m better off now than I used to be. I’m better at minimizing it and thinking about one thing.”

Smoak is optimistic that some of the Jays younger hitters are coming out of the early struggles as well. While there have been far too many ugly at-bats, the team has at least found a way to manufacture wins, including three of their past four.

“It’s just so early in the year,” Smoak said. “I feel like a lot of times guys want to get off to a good start and when you don’t you kind of put pressure on yourself.

“I know when I was a young player I felt like every day was Game 7 of the World Series. You’ve got to just put it in perspective, slow it down. It’s a long season. Do your work. Do what you’ve got to do to get to where you want to be.”

PLAY OF THE GAME

The play of the game was also the game’s final play, a dramatic Teoscar Hernandez to Freddy Galvis to Danny Jansen relay as the latter tagged potential tying run C.J. Cron at the plate for the final out.

“That was the perfect relay,” Montoyo said. “Everyone is thinking of Galvis making the throw (to the plate) but to me the big one was Teoscar getting the ball quick and making the perfect throw to Galvis.”

With a 6-4 lead entering the ninth it was a dodgy effort for closer Ken Giles, who had missed Monday’s game due to illness and still appeared to be under the weather. It started with a solo home run to Marwin Gonzales and was followed by a walk to Nelson Cruz.

Then with two outs, Byron Buxton doubled into the left-field corner where a sharp Hernandez was armed and ready.

“That’s a play we always practised before the season started,” Hernandez said of the daily drills in Dunedin. “As much as you practice one play you make it easy when it comes to the games.”

GAME ON

Jays starter Aaron Sanchez allowed just four hits in his six innings of work. Trouble was, two of those were home runs. The four earned were the most in Sanchez’s four starts this season, but in improving to 2-1, Sanchez battled through it, striking out five.

Not only have the Jays won three of their past four, each of those wins have come via a comeback. The Jays improved to 7-11 and climbed out of the AL East basement, a spot now in sole possession of the World Series champion Red Sox.

* Game 18 featured the debut of a third baseman recently promoted from triple-A Buffalo.

Yes, Eric Sogard, 12 years older and 70 pounds heavier than you-know-who, was batting leadoff in Montoyo’s lineup and responded with two singles and a double. “He was a spark plug today,” Montoyo said.

WISDOM OF SOCRATES

The acquisition of Socrates Brito from the Padres at the beginning of the month has not exactly boosted the Jays in any measurable way.

The opposite is more likely true, in fact.

With three strikeouts and a pop out Tuesday, Brito fell to 0-for-21 to start his tenure with the Jays, setting a dubious club record in the process.

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